When it comes to getting a new roof installed, the first thing that you want to prioritize is the safety of your home. In addition, you want to ensure that it offers you other benefits that should improve your home by a margin. The fact is, installing a new roof is not only a good idea for an aesthetic enhancement. It’s a great way to improve your curb appeal which automatically translates to an improvement in your home’s market value. But having a new roof isn’t as easy as you might think it is. It’s a process that involves adequate planning and seamless execution. For instance, you should understand how different shingles work on what type of roof. If you’re unsure about certain things when it comes to your new roof, you’re not alone. This is why you should keep on reading to find out everything you need to know about a new roof.
1. Select the Right Materials
One of the most important decisions that you should make to help you avoid a roofing repair in the future is the type of materials that you use. Before you decide to use a material, you should consider things such as how it looks, how much it costs and what its lifespan is. Take for instance your asphalt roofing shingles. These are commonly an economical option. Yet, their lifespan is considered the shortest when it comes to roofing.
If you want to make an investment for your residential roofing, you should consider something that lasts longer such as your concrete or metal shingles. These are a great option if you’re trying to find something that will last longer. Nowadays, there are other types of roof material that you can choose from. These are ideal for enhancing your curb appeal. For example, you can choose any of the following.
- Asphalt
- Shakes and slates
- Vinyl roof
- Metal roof
- Tile roofing
2. Understand Between Peeling Off or Layering On
If you’re getting a new roof, you should think of whether you’ll be peeling off the old layer or if you’ll be laying your new shingles on the new one. It’s important to know what you should do before you can put in your new roof. The thing is, the old layer of your shingles is likely to add more stress to your roof. Moreover, you should ensure that you comply with the building code of the state that you’re in. In some states, you’re not allowed to put more than two shingle layers on the same roof.
However, if you can put on a second layer on your roof, you should peel off the layer that’s underneath before you install a new layer. But if your shingles have started curling, then you should consider taking the original layer. In addition, if you live in an area where there’s high winds occasionally, you should consider changing your entire roof. Yet, in a much colder area, peeling off the roof is a great idea. It should help you to put an ice or water shield. This is useful to prevent any leaks from occurring should you have any ice buildup.
3. Examine the Roof Frame
If you’ve had to do any roof repairs before getting your new roof, it’s important for you to examine your roof frame first. If you have plywood that’s supporting your roof, you should ensure that you inspect the frame first. If you happen to notice that there are areas where your sheathing is becoming soft. If there are any signs of disintegration in your roof frame, you should ensure that you replace it before you can install your new roof.
If you have any old layer of your roof, you should remove it so that you can inspect it before you start the installation. It’s important for you to assess any issues and fix them before there are any leaks in your roof frame. These can cause a lot of structural damage that can end up being too expensive to fix. Avoiding these issues from affecting your roof frame should help you to improve the lifespan of your roof.
4. Roof Replacement Techniques
The fact of the matter is that you don’t necessarily need to hire a roof contractor if you want to get yourself a new roof. You should consider doing it yourself if you feel like you have the time on your hands. If it’s a residential roof that you’re replacing, it should take you a minimum of 2 days to get the work done on your own. You’ll likely spend the first day trying to remove your old roof. But it’s important for you to think of the safety and insurance considerations before you can install your new roof. In certain instances, your insurance won’t process your claim if you can’t prove that you hired a professional to get the job done.
As a result, installing your new roof yourself isn’t something that you should attempt to do on your own. Besides the potential issues that you might face with insurance, you should also expect potential risks that can affect the roof. If you don’t understand certain techniques, you’re likely to damage your new roof before you even finish installing it. If you don’t know much about installing a new roof, you should consider hiring a roofing contractor to do the job for you.
5. Choose the Right Roofing Company
When you choose the right roofing company, it means that you’re choosing an exceptional roofer to meet your needs. Being ambitious about getting the installation done yourself is not a bad idea. Yet, if you’re a homeowner who has a lot on your hands, you should consider how convenient it is to hire a professional to do the job for you. This is why it’s important to include finding the best roofing company before you start buying your materials. As soon as you get the idea to replace your roof, you should pick up the phone to contact different companies for the best quote.
You’d be surprised to find that your prospective contractors come yo your house to do an extensive inspection on your roof. This is likely to highlight any other problems that you have overlooked. There is specific roof damage or roof frame damage that requires an expert to conclude on how much repair work should be done. But, it’s essential for you to find out if this company can install the type of roof that you need. The last thing that you want is to deal with a company that can’t produce the results that you desire in the end.
6. Roof Installation Process
When you’re getting a new roof installed, you should remember that this is a loud process. Your roof contractor is going to hammer away to strip old shingles and to add new ones. So, if you have family members and furry friends who are likely sensitive to loud noise, you should prepare for this disturbance early on. This means that you should think of where you’ll move anyone who can’t stand the noise. If you have set schedules around the house, you should consider changing them around to suit this temporary situation. Other things that you should consider doing include the following.
- Inform your neighbors about the roofing replacement
- Move your car out of the driveway
- Relocate your pets
- Take your kids to your mother’s house for a few days
- Plan for every possible situation
7. Obtain Essential Documents
Did you know that you need a building permit to install a new roof? This is a document that’s in addition to the contract that you should sign with your roofing contractors. Having a building permit is a crucial consideration when you’re getting a new roof. Not only does it help you to uphold your warranty, but it also helps you to ensure that your contractors are adhering to any building codes in you area.
This isn’t the only document that you should have. The second most important document that you should obtain is the one that comes from your contractor’s insurance company. This document is important because it’s addressed to you. Additionally, it confirms that your roofing project has been confirmed in case there’s any insurance claims that may be taken.
8. Ask Questions
The great thing about planning for your new roof installation is that you have the option to ask questions before you commit to any binding contract. Once you’ve decided on the company that you want to use to give your home the roof that it needs, you should ask for a contract. This important document should contain everything that you’ve talked about while doing the inspection. In addition, you should ask all the questions that you wish to know more about. For example, you should ask your contractor the following questions.
- What is the shingles type?
- What is the color of the roof?
- Which area of your roof will be worked on?
- What is the type of work that will be required?
- Will you require a re-roofing service in the future?
9. Prevent Another Roof Replacement
The thing is, you want to avoid getting a new roof as much as possible once you’ve installed this one. While this is inevitable since your roof materials have a lifespan to uphold, you should understand how to maintain your roof to avoid needing a new one anytime soon. But how can you ensure that this happens effectively? The following are some helpful maintenance tips that you should consider using on your new roof.
- You should always inspect and clean your roof by keeping an eye on any damaged shingles.
- Replace any cracked or worn out sealant as soon as you see it.
- Be on a regular lookout for any corrosion or rust forming on the edges of your roof.
- Ensure to keep your gutters clean and unclogged at all times.
- If you have a chimney, make sure to keep it in good condition all year round.
- Pre-empt the formation of ice dams in winter. Do this by insulating your house and roof.
10. Have Proper Waste Management
Now that you’ve gone through the most crucial considerations about your new roof, it’s important for you to know how to dispose of any waste. For instance, if you opted to remove the old layer of your existing roof, it’s common for you to have nails that were stripped off at the same time. If these are left lying around in your driveway or backyard, they can cause extensive damage. Not only can they potentially cause injuries to your kids when they’re outside playing. But, they can also damage your tires when you drive your car on the driveway especially in the evenings.
Fortunately, if you’ve hired a professional contractor, he should have adequate equipment and waste management to ensure that your home is left clean after the job is complete. To collect these nails, your contractor may opt for a large magnetic machine that does the job easily for him. You should make sure that you find out if your roofer has any of these magnets that come with wheels to lessen the load. It’s always advisable to ask them to clean up properly before you can finalize your payment.
In summary, installing a new roof doesn’t have to be a challenge. When you know what to use and which asphalt company to contact it makes your life easier. The last thing that you want to do is to tackle installing a new roof on your own when you don’t have the required knowledge to pull it off. It’s okay to admit that you don’t know much about your new roof. This is why it’s a better option for you to contact someone who’s an expert to get the job done on your behalf. Using this guide should help you to figure out all that you should about your new roof. You should enjoy having your new roof installed.